Category Archives: Temptation

“Let Me Tell You About My Better Half…”

Posted on February 23, 2011 by russellmckinney

In volume 4 of his commentary set on Romans, the noted preacher Donald Barnhouse tells the following story: A man I knew through my ministry was going with a girl who, some of us thought, was not at all worthy … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Character, Choices, Desires, Husbands, Marriage, Personal Holiness, Temptation, Wives | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

For His Name’s Sake

Posted on January 9, 2010 by russellmckinney

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Backsliding, Character, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, God's Will, Influence, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Sanctification, Separation, Sin, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sin’s Progression

Posted on January 5, 2010 by russellmckinney

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; (Psalm 1:1, N.K.J.V.) In my previous post, I outlined Psalm 1:1-3 under … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Backsliding, Choices, Counsel, Doing Good, Holiness, Husbands, Influence, Marriage, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Seeking Advice, Sin, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Three-Point Checklist for the New Year

Posted on January 1, 2010 by russellmckinney

Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left. Remove your foot from evil. … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Change, Choices, Contentment, Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Will, Holiness, New Year, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lessons Learned From The Tiger Woods Story

Posted on December 9, 2009 by russellmckinney

Things are getting kind of bizarre in the story of Tiger Woods, the world’s top-ranked golfer. News broke early Tuesday that an ambulance had been dispatched to his Florida mansion sometime around 2:30 a.m. in response to a 911 call. The ambulance picked up Barbro Holmberg, Woods’ mother-in-law. She was … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Adversity, Belief, Character, Choices, Contentment, Desires, Faith, Fatherhood, Forgiveness, Husbands, Marriage, Money, Parenting, Priorities, Seeking Forgiveness, Sex, Sin, Sports, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

To Doorbust or Not To Doorbust?

Posted on November 29, 2009 by russellmckinney

This past Friday I got closer than I’ve ever gotten to doing some “door busting” on Black Friday. Walmart was advertising a sweet laptop at an unheard of price, and so I made plans to hit in there about 4:00 a.m. and take … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Choices, Contentment, God's Will, Money, Personal, Priorities, Stewardship, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Temptation’s Wreckers

Posted on September 17, 2009 by russellmckinney

As a lifelong resident of North Carolina, I’m interested in historical tidbits of information about my state. Somewhere along the way, I picked up an old legend about Nags Head, a town located on the Outer Banks of eastern North … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Change, Choices, Contentment, Deception, Decisions, Discernment, God's Will, Greed, Lust, Problems, Temptation, Trials | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Walking Civil War

Posted on August 9, 2009 by russellmckinney

William Barclay wrote, “Every man is a walking civil war. Within him there is the tension, the division, the battle between right and wrong, between good and evil, between passion and reason, between the instincts and the will.” Truer words … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Backsliding, Choices, Comfort, Covetousness, Disobedience, Doing Good, Encouragement, Eternity, Heaven, Man's Freewill, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Salvation, Sin, Temptation, The Holy Spirit, War | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Got Your Baptismal Certificate with You?

Posted on July 28, 2009 by russellmckinney

The two ordinances that God has given the church are the Lord’s Supper and Believer’s Baptism. The Lord’s Supper points us to Christ’s death, and Believer’s Baptism points us to His resurrection. Each ordinance hinges upon a right understanding of … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adultery, Backsliding, Baptism, Character, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Commitment, Conviction, Crucifixion, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Dying To Self, Eternity, Faithfulness, Holiness, Hypocrisy, Idolatry, Lust, Lying, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Racism, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin, Temptation, The Lord's Supper | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Love for Jesus Looks Like

Posted on July 25, 2009 by russellmckinney

Harry Winston, the famous New York diamond dealer, once heard about a wealthy Dutch merchant who was looking for a certain kind of diamond to add to his collection. Winston called the merchant, told him he thought he had just … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Alcohol, Backsliding, Choices, Commitment, Confession, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Drugs, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, Gambling, Gluttony, God's Holiness, God's Will, Holiness, Love, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Priorities, Rebellion, Repentance, Sanctification, Separation, Sin, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment